Shobunsha Holdings

Basic Information

Stock Code
9475
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Mass Media
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
June 1964
Listing Year
September 1996
Official Website
https://www.mapple.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Part-Time Times, KG Information, Technomasema, Starts Publishing, Komura Insatsu, Sakurajima Suto, Alphapolis, Zenrin, SE Holdings and Incubations, Impress Holdings

Overview

Shobunsha Holdings is a long-established group in the information and communications industry founded in 1964, specializing in Japan's largest road map and travel guidebook publishing, while accelerating the digitalization of map information services.

Current Situation

Shobunsha Holdings recorded consolidated sales of approximately 6.3 billion yen for the fiscal year ended March 2021, but operating and net profits remained in the red. It holds an overwhelming market share in its core map and travel guide sectors and is actively transitioning from print media to digital. In recent years, it has advanced technology development to respond to the spread of smartphone map apps, strengthening the provision of high-quality maps through proprietary technologies like the SiMAP typesetting system. Having transitioned to a holding company structure, it aims for efficient operations through specialized subsidiaries. While seeking revenue recovery through digital transformation and new service launches, challenges include changes in the travel-related environment and intensifying market competition. In sustainability efforts, it focuses on regional contributions and improving information accuracy, aiming to expand its growth base from 2025 onward. Moving forward, it will focus on strengthening internet map provision services and expanding into B2B service areas.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Shobunsha's main brand 'Mapple' is a coined word from 'map' and 'apple'.
  • Historic map publishing company continuing since 1963.
  • 'Large Print Map' is a pioneer in visibility-focused maps.
  • Specializes in general maps, developing proprietary mapping method SiMAP.
  • Travel guide 'Mapple' is popular across a wide range of ages.
  • Conducted joint campaigns with Obunsha in 2013 and 2014.
  • Return home support maps during disasters were distributed free to local governments.
  • There was a time when radio frequencies were printed on the back of maps.
  • Transitioned to holding company structure on April 1, 2020.
  • Electronic map software 'Super Mapple Digital' is among the top in Japan.
  • Various maps available through diverse nationwide sales channels.
  • Compact holding company structure with about 32 employees.
  • Strong regionally focused customer response in map production.
  • Conducted collaboration with Obunsha due to confusing company names, generating buzz.
  • Independent subsidiaries focusing on specialized domains.

Hidden Connections

  • Leveraged name confusion with Obunsha for marketing campaigns.
  • Map digitalization technology SiMAP is evaluated as an industry standard.
  • Strong partnerships with local governments through map data provision.
  • Long track record in map publishing has earned high trust as an advertising medium.
  • Donates portion of disaster reconstruction map sales as aid to affected local governments.
  • Implemented voluntary retirements for many employees due to 2018 smartphone map proliferation.
  • Travel guide brand 'Kotrip' reaches young female demographic.
  • Strengthening collaborations with external printing and logistics companies.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of demand for smartphone and mobile map services
  • Recovery and growth of travel guide market with tourist rebound
  • Increase in new orders for precise B2B map data provision
  • Efficiency gains in map editing and updates utilizing IoT and AI technologies
  • Social demand expansion for regionally focused disaster prevention and support maps
  • Eco-friendly publishing boosted by rising sustainability product preferences
  • Increased demand for multilingual guides with inbound tourism recovery
  • Expansion of advertising and marketing businesses linked to maps
  • Spread of cloud-based information provision using API services
  • Expansion of digital textbook demand in education
  • Acquisition of new customer segments through digital shift
  • New service creation through collaboration with smart city plans

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve over 70% sales ratio from digital maps and services
  • Establish top-class industry position in B2B map provision business
  • Company-wide rollout of eco-friendly publishing and 40% CO2 emission reduction
  • Expand market share of multilingual travel guides
  • 100% coverage of national local governments with disaster response map services
  • Complete introduction of AI analysis technology for customer satisfaction improvement
  • Acquire young users through new brand launches
  • Achieve over 200 companies using cloud map APIs
  • Business optimization under holding company structure for improved profitability
  • Promote regional collaboration projects for local revitalization support

Business Segments

Map Data Provision Services

Overview
Provides high-precision map data and APIs to a wide range of industries to support business efficiency.
Competitiveness
Integration of long years of map production expertise with the latest digital technologies
Customers
  • Local governments
  • Real estate companies
  • Construction companies
  • Logistics companies
  • Public transportation operators
  • Tourism associations
  • IT companies
  • Advertising agencies
  • Disaster response organizations
  • Educational institutions
  • Research institutions
  • Media
Products
  • Map database
  • Geographic Information System (GIS)
  • Electronic map API
  • Custom map production
  • Traffic information provision
  • Weather information integration
  • Disaster support maps
  • Real estate map solutions
  • Logistics route optimization support
  • Advertising map content
  • Regional marketing data

Publication Planning, Editing, and Production

Overview
Provides diverse products such as publication planning and custom maps tailored to customer needs.
Competitiveness
Abundant track record in planning capabilities and diverse editing techniques
Customers
  • Bookstores
  • Sales agents
  • Tourism operators
  • Educational institutions
  • Corporate promotion staff
  • Advertising agencies
  • Event operators
Products
  • Travel guidebooks
  • Specialized map books
  • Magazine editing and publishing
  • Educational material publishing
  • Custom map production
  • Advertising-attached publications
  • Promotional tools

Electronic Information Services

Overview
Offers smartphone maps and tourism guide apps, along with linked information services.
Competitiveness
High-precision digital maps leveraging print media expertise
Customers
  • Smartphone app developers
  • Web service companies
  • Advertisers
  • Transfer guide operators
  • Tourist information centers
  • Transportation operators
  • Local governments
Products
  • Map and navigation apps
  • Tourism information platform
  • Charging tourism maps
  • Transfer guide functions
  • Location information services
  • Advertising-linked map systems

Logistics and Real Estate Solutions

Overview
Provides optimal map information and analysis services for logistics and real estate.
Competitiveness
Practical solutions linked with business information
Customers
  • Logistics companies
  • Real estate companies
  • Commercial facility developers
  • Delivery services
Products
  • Delivery route optimization software
  • Land price analysis maps
  • Facility placement simulations
  • Regional infrastructure information

Advertising and Promotion Support

Overview
Plans and produces maps for advertising, events, and promotional materials.
Competitiveness
Extensive experience in brand recognition and customer touchpoint creation
Customers
  • Advertising agencies
  • Corporate marketing departments
  • Tourist site operators
  • Local governments
Products
  • Advertising placement maps
  • Event guide maps
  • Promotional maps
  • Digital advertising-linked maps

Education-Related Business

Overview
Provides map materials, encyclopedias, and learning support content for schools and educational institutions.
Competitiveness
Production techniques tailored for easy understanding by children
Customers
  • Schools
  • Boards of education
  • Libraries
  • Instructional material producers
Products
  • Educational map materials
  • Children's encyclopedia series
  • Social studies reference materials
  • Learning support apps

Corporate Marketing Data Provision

Overview
Provides marketing data utilizing location information to support corporate strategy development.
Competitiveness
Specialized analysis and visualization capabilities for location information
Customers
  • Retail
  • Food and beverage
  • Tourism
  • Services
Products
  • Customer movement maps
  • Market analysis reports
  • Location information analysis
  • Competitor research materials

Public and Disaster Support Services

Overview
Rapidly provides emergency support maps to local governments and disaster response organizations.
Competitiveness
Rapid information gathering and accurate map production capabilities
Customers
  • Local governments
  • Disaster response headquarters
  • Public interest groups
Products
  • Disaster-time return home support maps
  • Reconstruction support maps
  • Evacuation site proposal maps
  • Regional disaster prevention information integration

Publication Copyright Management and Licensing

Overview
Leverages intellectual property through copyright management and licensing of brand maps.
Competitiveness
Extensive licensing track record based on commissioned production experience
Customers
  • Corporate advertising
  • Video production
  • Publishing-related companies
Products
  • Map usage licensing
  • Copyright management
  • Advertising copyright provision

Tourism-Related Information Provision Services

Overview
Provides information dissemination and visitor attraction support to numerous tourism businesses.
Competitiveness
Diverse information assets accumulated through regional closeness
Customers
  • Tourism associations
  • Accommodation facilities
  • Travel agencies
Products
  • Regional tourism information distribution
  • Accommodation and transportation guide integration
  • Tourism map planning and editing

Event Map Planning and Production

Overview
Provides planning to production of venue maps for various events and competitions.
Competitiveness
Custom production capabilities responsive to practical needs
Customers
  • Event organizers
  • Commercial facility operators
  • Local governments
Products
  • Event guide maps
  • Traffic guidance maps
  • Venue layout maps

Marketing Research

Overview
Supports companies with map-linked marketing research.
Competitiveness
Analysis techniques leveraging geographical perspectives
Customers
  • Advertising agencies
  • Corporate marketing departments
Products
  • Customer distribution analysis
  • Advertising effectiveness measurement
  • Market research reports

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Japan's largest scale coverage of road maps
  • Accumulated map production technology over many years
  • Diverse publication brand deployments
  • Digitalization promotion via SiMAP system
  • Strong position in travel guide market
  • Rich customer base and distribution network
  • Business segmentation strengthening through specialized subsidiaries
  • Regionally focused disaster support map production
  • High brand logo recognition
  • High-precision detailed specialized map production
  • Multifaceted information service provision structure
  • Comprehensive B2B map data provision
  • Adaptation to shift from publishing to digital
  • Group excelling in planning and editing capabilities
  • Rich geographical information network

Competitive Advantages

  • Exceptional map production strength leveraging nationwide coverage
  • Long-standing trust and rich brands maintained in travel guide field
  • Strength in digitalization competition with proprietary technologies like SiMAP
  • Broadly meets customer needs with multifaceted road, travel, and specialized maps
  • Business growth strategy through specialization and efficient management under holding company structure
  • Strong ties with local governments and public institutions
  • High consumer recognition through unique brand logos and expressions
  • Expanded distribution channels utilizing diverse sales routes
  • Expectations for new business creation through fusion of publishing and digital fields
  • Market superiority with high customer trust and loyalty
  • Expanding B2B domain with high-quality map data provision
  • Image enhancement through social contributions like disaster support
  • Diverse product lineup accommodating niche items
  • Creating unique value with region-specific and specialized maps
  • Establishing competitive edge through continuous investment in information accuracy improvement

Threats

  • Emergence of digital map competitors squeezing the market
  • Decline in paid demand due to spread of free map services
  • Sales slump accompanying rapid smartphone app proliferation
  • Significant contraction trend in print publishing market
  • Instability in travel market and fluctuations in tourism demand
  • Map information disclosure restrictions from strengthened regulations
  • Risks of electronic data leaks and intellectual property infringements
  • Market shrinkage due to domestic population decline
  • Prolonged impact from external shocks like COVID-19
  • Increasing map accuracy demands and rising maintenance costs
  • Competitive disadvantage from delays in new technology adoption
  • Acceleration of competing products development from other industries

Innovations

2023: Development of Smartphone Charging Tourism Map

Overview
Launched a tourism map app covering charging spots for EV users.
Impact
Contributes to improved convenience for tourists and acquisition of new customers.

2022: Introduction of SiMAP Fifth-Generation System

Overview
Advanced map design and digital production, improving information update speed.
Impact
Achieved product quality improvement and work efficiency gains.

2021: Launch of Electronic Map API Service

Overview
Began providing customizable map APIs for companies.
Impact
Successfully secured new revenue sources in B2B business.

2024: Online Conversion of Disaster Return Home Support Maps

Overview
Started digital map service linked with real-time disaster information.
Impact
Strengthened social contributions through high-public-interest service expansion.

2023: AR Technology-Utilizing Map Display Experiment

Overview
Exploring new usage experiences linking AR technology with print maps.
Impact
Contributes to foundational technology development for next-generation map services.

2022: Adoption of Environmentally Considerate Printing Technology

Overview
Introduced recycled paper usage and energy-saving printing equipment to reduce environmental impact.
Impact
Strengthened sustainable publishing framework.

2020: Transition to Holding Company Structure

Overview
Shifted to holding company system to improve business efficiency and reinforce growth strategies.
Impact
Optimized allocation of management resources and promoted inter-subsidiary collaboration.

2021: Opening of Digital Travel Information Platform

Overview
Launched online platform aggregating digital content for travelers.
Impact
Accelerating digital shift with expanding user base.

2023: AI-Based Automation of Map Update Operations

Overview
Efficiently streamlined map information checking and updating using artificial intelligence.
Impact
Contributes to faster updates and labor cost reductions.

2024: Expansion of Region-Specific Tourism Guide Apps

Overview
Released multiple custom tourism apps reflecting characteristics of various regions.
Impact
Supports regional revitalization and tourism demand activation.

Sustainability

  • Introduction of environmentally considerate printing technologies and paper
  • Free provision of regional disaster support maps as CSR
  • Strengthened internal management for energy savings and waste reduction
  • Resource conservation through promotion of shift from print to digital
  • Provision of environmental education support materials for educational institutions
  • Employee training to raise environmental awareness
  • Participation in environmental awareness activities at regional events
  • Promotion of environmental load reduction across the supply chain
  • Promotion of renewable energy utilization
  • Planning and editing of sustainable publications